We Made It!!

Short blog from the iPhone app!! We made it to the convention, got our passes, and got to our room. Now it's time for some dinner!!

We have an excellent view of the convention center and I'm looking forward to a short jog around downtown before things start tomorrow morning (did you hear that Fawn)!!

More later after we eat something and I get the computer set up!!

State Convention Is Coming!!

This is the week/weekend of the State GOP Convention. As we speak, delegates are already meeting in Fort Worth on various committees to determine the direction and representation of the Republican Party of Texas for the next two years. In 2010, Milam County’s own District Court Judge John Youngblood represented Senate District 5 and sat on the Rules Committee. Those folks have the lion’s share of the work this week while the rest of us will show up Wednesday or Thursday.

I plan to arrive on Wednesday night and look forward to sharing the evening with my wife and friends as we prepare for a busy three days of meetings, caucusing and voting on the future of our party, out state, and our country as we select delegates to send to the national convention in Tampa, Florida in August.

Delegates and alternates from Milam County were selected at the County Convention in April. They are as follows:

Delegates
David Barkemeyer - Cameron
Les Davenport - Rockdale
Kyle Deal - Cameron
John Ferguson - Cameron
Rick Gommert - Rogers
Brian Harper - Rockdale
Roderick Holcombe - Cameron
Stephen Husher - Cameron
Marilyn Johnson - Thorndale
William Whitmire - Milano
John Youngblood - Cameron

Alternates
Doyce Neal Larson - Milano
Jamie Larson - Gause
Herbert Vaughn - Rockdale
Sandra Turner - Milano
Donna Orsag - Cameron
Margia Barkemeyer - Cameron
Anne Harper - Rockdale
Margaret Holcombe - Cameron
Alan Gardenhire - Rockdale

I will be sending updates, pictures and other helpful tidbits from the convention via my new Blog App on my phone and on the Milam GOP Twitter account at @milamgop. Check it out!! If you can’t find it just search for my name, Bill Whitmire, and you should be able to find it.

If there is anything you would like to know or anything you would like represented during the SD-5 or CD-17 Caucuses then let me, or any of the delegates know and we will be happy to address them.

Thanks to you all for your support and look for the updates as we go.

Thanks Again,
Bill

OKAY – I heard ya!!

Sorry it’s taken a week to get this out but with the state convention coming up, the paperwork that needs to be done to report the results of the primary election, and prepare for the runoff I am just now catching up. But here is some of the information that I thought you might like to read and a little graph I thought you might like to see.

First, let’s look at a little history. The most primary voters in a GOP primary before 2010 was a little over 700 voters. In 2010 we broke our records and everyone’s expectations by registering 1678 primary voters.

This primary we almost managed to reach our record total of 1678 during the early voting stage of the primary with 1578 voters. Cap that off with the 1669 voters and from Primary Election Day and you have a grand total of 3247 GOP voters in this year’s primary election. Now compare that to only 548 votes in the Democrat Primary and I think it’s clear the Milam County has turned a political corner.

I know there has been a lot of talk about the number of GOP primary voters being high due to the Sheriff’s race being chosen in the GOP primary. And while that may have had a strong initial draw, the low number of uncommitted votes in the other GOP races shows it’s obvious that Milam County voters are embracing having a choice in the Primary.

Finally Milam County voters and candidates are choosing to vote based on their values and not just on the notion of only having one party to chose from in local elections. The trend is clear and the graph below demonstrates that clearly Milam County will no longer be considered a Democrat stronghold – Congratulations!!



Thanks, Bill

May 22nd and All's Well!!

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to touch base briefly to give you two pieces of information.

First, following last night’s early voting, the totals are as follows here in Milam County.
136 Democrat Votes
896 GOP Votes

So for those keeping track, we have already reached the highest number of early voting ballots cast in a GOP Primary in Milam County History and we only need 783 more primary votes to break the highest number of total votes in a GOP primary ever here in Milam County.

Now it’s time to finish this early voting off strong by Getting Out the Vote. Get your neighbors, your family, and your friends and let’s get them to the polls and really shake the world this election period. There are only three more days of early voting after today and then the Election Day on May 29th. Everything is looking so good and I appreciate everyone’s efforts. Milam County is really showing Central Texas folks what a Republican Revolution looks – now let’s finish the deal

Secondly, and as part of finishing off the primary period, tonight is the Milam County Tea Party’s monthly meeting scheduled for 6:00 pm tonight at the Milano Community Center located across from the post office in Milano. There will be some state representatives and a representative for one of the U.S. Senate candidates along with several of our local candidates. So come on out and meet with us, and most importantly meet with them to answer your questions.

Thanks everyone for the support you have shown for our Republican Candidates and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Thanks,
Bill

May 18, 2012 Early Voting Update!!

Hello Everyone,


It has been a very exciting primary season so far for the Republican Party here in Milam County. 20 candidates and seven contested races are making for some excellent vote totals. So without further adieu, I thought I would give you some of the figures.

Overall 87% of the voters in Milam County are voting in the GOP primary. That’s right, in a county where just a mere two years ago people were still claiming that to get elected in Milam County you had to run as a Democrat, 87% of the voters are voting in the Republican Primary! To date (as of last night) the totals votes for the primary are as follows:

Total Democrat Votes: 97

Total Republican Votes: 640

Here are some other interesting facts to check out.
- This year’s early voting has already surpassed the early voting for 2010 and has nearly tripled the early voting totals in the 2008 primary.

- In regards to overall primary votes, as of last night we are just shy of 40% of the entire number of primary voters for 2010 and we are nearly at 90% of the total number of primary voters in the 2008 election.

- This year’s primary voting has already reached third place all-time for total voters in a Milam County GOP primary and it is entirely possible that we will crush the all-time high of 1678 set in 2010.

There are six more days of early voting counting the end of today, so get out and vote. Get your neighbors and take them to vote. Get your spouse and get them to vote. Bring your kids in from college and have them vote (mine are doing so next Friday). Call your friends and get them out to vote. Most importantly, just “Get Out The Vote!!”

Remember Tuesday night May 22nd. The Milam County Tea Party is looking for a good turnout to meet the candidates and talk to them all. The meeting will take place at the Milano Community Center across from the US Post Office in Milano. If you’re a voter then come listen to the candidates. And if you’re a candidate then come on out and speak with these highly motivated voters.

Take care and I’ll be in touch with more information as it comes available.

Have a Wonderful Day!!
Bill

Milam County Republican Convention!

Milam Republican Party Announces 2012 County/District Convention Plans
Milam County Republican Chairman Bill Whitmire has announced that the 2012Milam County Republican Convention will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at The Milam County Courthouse, 102 South Fannin, Cameron, Texas starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Milam County Republican Convention is held in even-numbered election years, as part of the statewide and national Republican convention process. The purposes of the convention are to choose delegates and alternates to the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) State Convention, currently scheduled for June 7-9 in Fort Worth, and to consider resolutions or statements on policy issues to send to the State Convention for eventual inclusion in the state and national Party platform.

As a result of the substantial changes election calendar in 2012, the Milam Republican Party will not be conducting precinct conventions on the evening of the May 29th Primary Election and will be incorporating all party business into the county convention on April 14th.

All attendees will be seated by precinct and will vote their precinct strength. Furthermore, all attendees have the right to seek to become a state delegate and to bring forth resolutions for consideration by the convention. The convention will be open to any registered voter who signs an oath of affiliation identifying themselves as a Republican.

In making the announcement, County Chairman Bill Whitmire said, "Although the timing of this year's convention schedule has changed for Milam County Republicans, we are very excited by the ability of the Republican Party of Milam County to cover the entire ballot for the first time ever and to select the 11 delegates and alternates to represent Milam County at the State Republican Convention to be held in Fort Worth. I look forward to coming together for this important event as we get ready to go to work to complete our duties that day. On behalf of our county party, I invite all Milam County Voters interested in participating in the Republican Convention Process to join us on Saturday, April 14th at the Milam County Courthouse to participate in a full day of important discussions and decisions that will carry forward to our State Republican Convention and beyond."

As an additional resource, the state party stands ready to answer any questions related to the 2012 Republican Party of Texas Convention process. More convention information is available at the RPT website - TexasGOP.org.

For any additional questions or information, please contact Milam County Chairman Bill Whitmire at 254-482-0354 or by email at: milamgop@yahoo.com. More information can also be found at the Milam GOP website at www.milamgop.org.

Ballot Drawing for the 2012 Primary Election!!

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend – And the Rain!!

With the finalizing of the filings periods it is time to conduct our ballot drawing. I apologize for getting this email out this late but I have been trying to get other things nailed down. With seven contested races in the local GOP primary making history in Milam County.

We will conduct the ballot drawing tomorrow afternoon, March 11, 2012, at 5:00 pm at the party headquarters in Cameron. This should not take more than about thirty minutes. If you cannot attend or if you do not wish to attend let me know and I will draw for you, or you may appoint a proxy to draw for you.

This ballot drawing is for those in a contested primary in the Republican field. Those who are unopposed in the primary are unaffected by this and do not need to attend; however, you are all welcome to come out and join the fun.

Thanks for your effort in running for office and serving the people of Milam County and good luck.

Thanks,
Bill

Bill Whitmire
Chairman,
Republican Party of Milam County
254-482-0354